GB2113272A

GB2113272A - Railing

Info

Publication number: GB2113272A
Application number: GB08236519A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luciano Baccelliere
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-12-24
Filing date: 1982-12-22
Publication date: 1983-08-03
Also published as: FR2519052B1; FR2519052A1; GB2113272B; BE895454A; DE3245851A1

Abstract

A railing for slat or sloping (e.g. stairs) surfaces comprises posts 4 to which a handrail 1 and e.g. brackets 30 to support panels 29, or rails (11) to support uprights (8), are pivoted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Railing structure This invention relates to a railing in prefabricated elements; the railing is of the adjustable type so that it can be mounted both on flat or sloping surfaces. It is well known that various types of prefabricated railings are at present available, but these only serve in practice to keep down construction and assembly costs; featuring different although similar configurations according to their application.

A railing used for flat surfaces has indeed a different configuration than a railing used for sloping surfaces, entailing separate manufacturing requirements.

This invention eliminates the aforesaid drawback, since it introduces an adjustable railing usable on both flat and sloping surfaces. In short, this railing features hinged posts mounted on short structural shapes inserted into the handrail while the protective panels are formed by uprights with ends hinged onto stringer sections housed in protective structural shapes, these panels being fixed to the posts by oscillating hooking devices, or else when made of metal, glass or plastic panes, these panels are mounted on supports oscillating on the posts.

For exemplification purposes, the invention is illustrated on the enclosed drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 respectively show a front and side view of the exemplified structural shape of the railing; Figs. 3 and 4 respectively show a front and side view of the exemplified short section on which the posts are hinged being mounted and inserted in the handrail; Figs. 5 and 6 respectively show a front and side view of the exemplified railing post; Figs. 7 and 8 respectively show a front and side view of a structural shape covering the section hinged onto the uprights; Figs. 9 and 10 respectively show a front and side view of the exemplified structural shape on which ends the panel uprights are hinged; Figs. 11 and 12 respectively show a front and side view of a panel upright;; Figs. 13 and 14 respectively show a front and side view of an exemplified hold-fast clamping together each post with its corresponding upright; Figs. 1 5 and 1 6 respectively show a front and cross section of part of the assembled adjustable railing; Figs. 1 7 and 1 8 respectively show a railing mounted on a horizontal plane and on a staircase; Figs. 1 9 and 20 respectively show a side view and a top view of an exemplified adjustable easement of two differently positioned horizontal handrails; Figs. 21 and 22 respectively show a side and top view of the exemplified easement between two reciprocally raking handrails; Fig. 23 shows a side view of the central body giving a second example of an easement between two reciprocally raking handrails;; Fig. 24 shows the central vertical section of the body viewed in Figure 23; Fig. 25 shows a top view of the body indicated in Fig. 23; Fig. 26 shows the front view of easement jointing, of the example given in Fig. 23, to the handrail; Fig. 27 shows a side view of the easement as given in Fig. 26; Fig. 28 shows the vertical central section of the jointing easement illustrated in Fig. 27; Fig. 29 shows the top view of the easement given in Fig. 27; Fig. 30 shows a vertical cross section of the easement illustrated in Figures 23 to 29, completely exemplified, between two consecutive handrails, one horizontal and the other sloping downwards; Fig. 31 shows the top view of the jointing easement as illustrated in Fig. 30;; Fig. 32 shows a perspective view of an exemplified movable support for panelling panes; Fig. 33 and 34 respectively show the installation of the panel railing on a horizontal plane and on a staircase; Figs. 35, 36 and 37 respectively show a side, top and front view of the element securing the post, as an alternative to Figs. 13 and 14; Figs. 38 and 39 respectively show a side and top view of the panel hooking element, as an alternative to Figs. 1 3 and 14; Fig. 40 shows a side view of the whole device securing the panel to the post, according to Figures 35 to 39; Fig. 41 shows a flat mounted, prefabricated adjustable railing using the fixing devices indicated in Fig. 40; Fig. 42 shows the sloping railing illustrated in Fig. 41;; Figs. 43 and 44 respectively show a top and side view of an exemplified hold-fast clamping the panel to the post in which the horizontal stringers are connected to the post, as an alternative to the solution shown in Figs. 1 3 and 14; Figs. 45 and 46 respectively show a front, back and side view of an exemplified movable support for plate panelling, as an alternative to the solution shown in Fig. 32; Figs. 47 and 48 respectively show the utilisation of the support given in Figs. 45 and 46 in a horizontal and in a sloping railing; Figs. 49 and 50 show in two side views, at right angles to each other, the connection of two side railings to one single end post shared by the entire flight;; Figs. 51 and 52 respectively show a side and top view of the connection of two superimposed and concurrent handrails at the end post shared by the entire flight of stairs; Fig. 53 shows the central and vertical section of an exemplified floor mounted support; Fig. 54 shows a top view of the support illustrated in Fig. 53 for a square post; Fig. 55 shows the central and vertical section of an exemplified wall mounted support; Fig. 56 shows the top view of the support illustrated in Fig. 55 for a square post; Fig.57 shows the side view of one of the expansion plates of the support illustrated in Figs.

53 to 56; Fig. 58 shows a top view of the support for a rectangular post; Fig. 59 shows a top view of a support for round and curved posts.

With reference to these figures, 1 indicates the handrail with any cross section whatsoever, although the upside-down U shape is preferred while the top of the section 2 is beveled at its lower end and the flanges 3 present a triple 900 angle turned inwards. This post 4, exemplified by a rectangular section, is hinged at its upper end by means of an appropriate spindle 5, on a short structural shape 6 of a suitable cross section through which to slip and slide the handrail and for the exemplified handrail of Figs. 1 and 2, this short structural shape 6 has an upside-down U form with a base corresponding to the central part 2 of the handrail and with flanges 7 featuring two steps turned outwards, so that they are resting on the bends 3 of the handrail.Final installation of these short structural shapes 6 can be effected by riveting; the lower end of the post will be readied, as usual, for wall or base plate mounting to be explained hereinafter.

When the post 4 and the related structural shape 6 are mounted inside the handrail, the spindle 5 cannot slip out or otherwise leave the holes in the post 4 and the short section 6, so that their further blocking becomes unnecessary.

The protective panelling consists of uprights 8 by way of example square or rectangular shaped, hinged at both ends through spindles 9 on U shaped stringers 10, their central flange part being slightly turned inwards. These hinging sections 10 are fitted into some other covering 11 also U shaped railing sections with their flange tips slightly turned inwards. In this case too, when ths uprights and related stringers 10 are inserted in the covering rail 11, the spindles 9 remain blocked without the need for any accessories, since they cannot slip out of the holes in the uprights 8 and in the stringers 10.

For post panel mounting, tightening devices are provided as exemplarily indicated in Figs. 13 and 14 including one part 12 partially wrapped around the post and one part 13 partially wrapped around the upright matching the post; element 12 has a through hole, while element 13 features a threaded boring so that both parts are connected and screw 14 tightened.

It follows that the prefabricated railing can either be mounted horizontally for the length needed, as shown in Fig. 17, or else in sloping position, as illustrated in Fig. 1 8. Therefore, the same railing can be adapted to various requirements according to the purpose of this Patent by simply rotating the various elements around the spindles 5 and 9.

Figs. 1 9 and 20 exemplify the possible fastening of two horizontal non-aligned railings to a prefabricated easement. This easement consists of two parts 1 5 and 16 matching the handrail configuration which, being completely inter penetrating, allow easement adaptation to the two railings; easement ends are dimensioned as to lodge inside for a short length the ends of both handrails, while the whole can be blocked by means of rivets 17.

Figs. 21 and 22 exemplarily indicate easement jointing between two sloping handrails or having a differentiated slope as in the case of two staircase banisters, or handrails, between staircase and landing. This easement can also be used to connect two horizontal handrails. For this purpose, an upper plate 1 8 has been provided, fitted at the corners with four uprights 1 9 facing downwards and flared V beveled, between those the plate features a V shaped jutting 20. Such an easement can be used to connect either banisters and/or handrails together covering a vast range of possible applications; square shaped handrails can thus be interconnected and likewise those forming about a 900 angle, due to the internal beveling of the uprights 1 9; handrails can be interconnected regardless of their slope seen the plate 18 beveling 20.

Handrails are mounted on uprights by means of screws fitted in the holes 21. Easement 18 sides untouched by the handrails can be closed by screwed-down plates 22.

The Figures 23 to 31 indicate a second example of handrail easement, 23 being the central hollow easement body as exemplified by a parallelepipedon with square bases, exemplarily showing convex horizontal axed semi-cyclindrical shaped side walls. Three of these convex lateral surfaces have a vertical elongated slot 24 while the bottom end of the body shows a large circular opening 25.

The jointing element 26 between the central body 23 and the handrail 1 features a semicylindrical recess matching the semi-cylindrical crowning of the body 23 and this recess has an elongated vertical slot 27 matching the position of the slot 24 in the convex walls of body 23.

The configuration of the connecting element 26 is such as to take and lodge the handrail 1 inside, while the two parts can be securely jointed by riveting or other means of connection.

As indicated in Figs. 30 and 31, the jointing of the hollow central body 23 with the connecting elements 26 is achieved with the aid of bolts 28 passing through slots 24 and 27 and this reciprocal securing can, depending upon the location and positioning of the connecting elements, facilitate handrail interconnection in straight continuity on a horizontal or on different planes, as well as interconnection at right angles on a horizontal or different planes. As can be seen, only three slots 24 have been made in body 1, since this number proves sufficient to meet all requirements.

In subject execution, the central body has the shape of a square parallelepipedon such, as to allow mutual interconnecting handrail continuity either rectilinear or at right angles; for differently positioned handrails, the central body can take other parallelepipedon configurations such as, for example, triangular or trapezoidal, etc., so that the lateral convex walls do remain perpendicular to the handrail axis.

As for railings, or banisters, with flat panelling, made, for example, of metal, glass or plastic, the posts 4 remain unaltered and their hinging system onto the handrail 1 is as described before.

To secure panels 29 to posts 4, supporting elements 30 are provided as shown in Fig. 32.

These supporting elements 30 consist of a U shaped section which is modified by press forming in order to create an X shaped recess 31, able to contain the front length of the post. This support is mounted mirrorwise in pairs on each post with the aid of through screws 32 fitted into hole 33 of the support and screwed down on this post.

Depending on whether the railing is positioned horizontally or is slope mounted, these supports 32, as said, two per post mounted mirrorwise, are either put in a horizontal or sloping position, as shown in Figs. 33 and 34.

Thus, the prefabricated panel railing can be used interchangeably for both horizontal and sloping positions. However, the panels will have to be arranged according to need, since they cannot be deformed.

Figs. 35 to 42 represent a fixing device fastening the panel to the post as an alternative to the illustration of Figs. 13 and 14.

This consists of two elements; the first one having a stirrup 34 welded to a round plate 35 with a central threaded hole 36, while the second element has a lower rectangular section 37 with a low longitudinal bulge 38 and an upper semicircular part 39 with about the same diameter as the circular plate 35 pertaining to the first element showing the through hole 40 corresponding to the threaded hole 36.

As indicated in Fig. 40, the first element envelops the railing post 4, while the second one penetrates with its bulging part 38 into the internal X-shaped structural stringer 10 belonging to the railing panel. A screw, or similar fastening device 41, securely connects both fixing elements so that they provide stable post panel interconnection.

The above clearly illustrates the panel mounting on the post by means of the items described, securing the upper and lower panel stringers to this post allowing for railing oscillation and thus its flat installation as indicated in Fig. 41 or else in sloping position, as shown in Fig. 42. As an alternative to the blocking devices of the panels on the posts shown in Figs.

13 and 14, a similar device as shown in Figs. 43 and 44 can be used. This device still features part 12 enveloping post 4, blocking it, while part 13 being slightly curved at the end, can penetrate into the upper and the lower stringers 10 and 11 of the panel, fastening them to the post through screw 14. When adopting this solution, the exact centering of a panel upright 8 in correspondence to post 4 is no longer necessary.

As an alternative to the support 30 of the panelling plate 29, as shown in Fig. 32, a movable support, as shown in Figs. 45 and 46 can be provided. This entails two surfaces 43 creating two recesses 44 separated by a V shaped truss containing the panel corners; one of the external surfaces 43 has two concentrical circular moving slots between which the flat-headed bolts 47 can slide, blocking the strip enveloping post 4.

The way to disassemble either horizontal or sloping panels using the same support is exemplified in Figs. 47 and 48.

If the stairs, especially at both ends, feature the same posts 49 for all flights or for all landings or platforms, handrails 1 can be mounted on the side of this post as shown in Figs. 49 and 50, or else concurrent to it, as shown in Figs. 51 and 52. In the event the handrails are mounted sideways, they can be fastened to post 49 for example by means of double hooks similar to those illustrated in Figs. 13, 14, 43 and 44 in which section 12 partially envelops the single post 49 while its sides 1 3 are hooked onto both handrails; in this lateral handrail solution, the railing can be entirely osciliating, as described above.However in the solution using concurrent handrails 1 in the single post, reciprocal fastening can be ensured by a strip with tongues hinged upon a pin 53 of which, for example, the central one 51 is slipped into and blocked by the lower handrail while the lateral tongues are fitted into and blocked by the upper handrail.

Since it will be impossible, by adopting this solution, to arrange the posts 4 and the various panels under the handrail, it will be necessary to secure them in some way and by any means to the sides of the handrail when these posts and panels are of the articulated type, as described above, in order to meet all flat and sloping handrail requirements.

Especially short structural shapes having an appropriato configuration, as for instance upsidedown U flat flanged sections fastened to the side of the handrail or else these structural shapes may be replaced by a single stringer structure attached to the handrail, or these short structural shapes can be eliminated and the various posts 4 are directly hinged into the side of the handrail.

With reference to Figs. 53 and 54, the floor mounted support consists of a base plate 54 featuring two symmetrical holes 55 to house the cylindrical stakes 56 of the rectangular cross sectioned expansion plate 57. These plates are suitably interspaced and of such a size as to be fitted into the hollow structural shape of the post 4. The support also features a wedge with isosceles trapezoid cross section and central threaded hole installed upside-down between these expansion plates 57, which in turn have short beveled upper central walls equal to the slope of the wedge walls. The wedge is crossed by the threading of a screw 59, its head protruding from the base plate 1. This support is completed by holes 60 for fastening of the base plate 54 onto the floor and by a protective covering 61.

From the above, the utilization of said support becomes quite evident.

After mounting the protective covering 61, the expansion plates 57 are fitted by means of partially loosened screws into the lower end of the post 4 whereupon the screws 59 are tightened so that the wedge 58 is lowered thus widening plates 57 which firmly settle against the inner walls of the post, and therefore definitively blocked in its final position.

The wall mounted support, as shown in Figs.

55 and 56 only varies from the above on account of its base plate 62 being L shaped with holes 63 for wall fastening on the vertical flange featuring an appropriate covering 64.

In Figs. 53 to 56, the bearing support is suitable for square cross section posts, while in Fig. 58 the support, being similar in every way, is appropriate for posts with a rectangular cross section. It is also possible to use the support in question for circular or curved posts and in this case, the external surfaces of the expansion plates 65 have matching curves, as illustrated in Fig. 59, and when adopting this solution, even base plates 54, 62 can be circular or curved so that their style will match that of the post.

The support in question can also be used with polygonal posts, especially those with hexagonal cross sections and in this case both the base plate and the expansion plate will match these shapes.

Wedge 58, crossed by screw 7, can also have some other configuration, instead of having an isosceles trapezoid cross section, the wedge can thus have a circular section or elliptic profile with horizontal axis parallel to the facing surfaces of the two expansion plates. When thin-walled, the expansion plates can be fastened onto the base plate by welding instead of by stakes 56 fitted into the holes 55. In this case, the wedge will widen the plates due to deformation and they will press against the internal post wall.

To guarantee better blocking of the post by means of the expansion plates, these external plate surfaces may be properly ridged or knurled.

In all contemplated solutions, alignment of the two stakes 56 and of the screw 59 can be either in one direction, as for example X-X of Figs. 53, 54, 55 and 56, or else at right angles X-Y as for example indicated in Figs. 58 and 59.

Obviously, the handrail, post or upright structural shapes as well as the related hinging structures can take on any aesthetical or ornamental configuration, always remaining within the scope of this Patent.

Claims

1. Railing in prefabricated adjustable elements for the protection and delimitation of flat surfaces or sloping surfaces characterised by the fact that it features a handrail with posts hinged at the upper part on short structural shapes fitted into this handrail and panels formed by uprights hinged at both ends to structural stringers fitted into other covering sections, these panels being secured to the post by means of tightening devices connecting each post to the corresponding upright and/or to the shaped stringers of the panel, or else featuring plate panels mounted on bearing supports hinged onto the posts, so that the same railing can be used horizontally or with any slope, adjusting the railing by rotating the posts with respect to the handrail and the uprights with respect to the shaped stringers, or else, by rotating the post with respect to the handrail and the panel supports with respect to the posts.

2. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the handrail features a preferably U shaped section with shaped flanges and that the short structural shapes onto which the posts are hinged, also feature a U shaped section, so that they can be easily slipped into the handrail and such as to be riveted in the appropriate positions by means of rivets.

3. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact the posts and uprights of the panels can have any kind of cross section, whether square, rectangular, polygonal, curved, etc.

4. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the stringer sections on which the panel uprights are hinged at the end, are U shaped with the flange center slightly turned inwards, while the covering section is U shaped with the flange tips 1 800 slightly bent inwards.

5. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the posts hinging upon the short structural shapes and the uprights hinged upon the shaped stringers are obtained by means of spindles fitted into the holes prepared for this purpose and kept in place by the handrail and by the shaped covering stringer.

6. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the device hooking the panels to the posts consists of two parts partially enveloping the uprights as well as the posts being jointed and tightened by means of screws.

7. Railing as described in claims 1 and 6, characterised by the fact that the device hooking the panels to the posts consists of two parts of which are part partially envelops post, while the other part, having a slight curved end penetrates into the upper and lower stingers where these parts are jointed and screwed down.

8. Railing as described in claims 1, 6 and 7, characterised by the fact that the device hooking the panels onto the posts consists of two elements, the first element having a stirrup welded to a round plate with a central threaded hole, while the second element has a lower rectangular section with a low longitudinal bulge and features an upper semi-circular part with a central through hole, so that when the railing post is slipped into the stirrup of the first element and the lower bulging part of the second element into the upper and lower X shaped section of the railing panel, the jointing of the two elements and the securing of the panel onto the post is achieved with screws or other similar means, offering the possibility to install the railings either on a flat or sloping surface.

9. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the supports of the plate panels are U shaped sections flattened at the center so as to form an X shaped recess into which post is lodged, the support being screwed onto the post by screws passing through the hole of the support.

10. Railing as described in claims 1 and 9, and characterised by the fact that the support is formed by two surfaces creating two recesses separated by a V shaped truss, one of the surfaces featuring concentrical circular slots into which are fitted the flat-headed sliding bolts blocking the strip enveloping the post.

11. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the connection between two horizontal non-aligned handrails is ensured by an easement consisting of two curved parts matching the handrail configuration being completely interpenetrating and with ends apt to lodge both ends of the two handrails.

12. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised so that the connection of two handrails having differentiated slopes is achieved by means of a plate element fitted at the corners with four uprights facing downwards and flared V beveled, the plate featuring a V shaped jutting between the uprights.

13. Railing as described in claims 1 and 12, and characterised by the fact that the connection between two handrails features a central hollow easement parallelepipedon shaped body with convex side walls while at least three of those walls have a vertical elongated slot and at least two jointing elements, between the main body and the handrail, each of which featuring on one side a recess matching the crowning of the body, this recess having a vertical elongated slot matching slot in body, while this connecting element is so shaped as to lodge the handrail inside, to be secured by rivets or similar devices and featuring bolts passing through these slots for permanent linking of the central body and jointing elements interconnecting the flat handrails and those positioned at different angles or levels.

14. Easement as described in claim 13, characterised by the fact that the central body is a square based parallelepipedon for the rectilinear or orthogonal interconnection of handrails.

1 5. Easement as described in claim 13, chracterised by the fact that the central body is a parallelepipedon with a trapezoidal or triangular base to interconnect handrails at any angle.

16. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the handrail and with it the railing, is secured by means of hooking devices to the post sides shared by the entire flight of stairs or by all the platform landings.

1 7. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that if the two handrails share one or more posts of the entire flight of stairs, they will be secured to these posts by means of an articulated element and these posts and articulated panels will be fixed to the outside of each handrail.

18. Railing as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that fastening of the posts at their lower ends is ensured by a base plate with holes for wall or floor mounting, while two expansion plates are mounted by means of two lower circular stakes to be fitted into the symmetrical holes in the base plate, or else secured to the base plate by welding these expansion plates being suitably interspaced and shaped so as to penetrate into the structural shape of the post, featuring a wedge with a horizontal axed isosceles trapezoid or circular cross section and a central threaded hole acting between these expansion plates which in turn have short, slightly beveled upper surfaces and a screw passing through the base plate, acting on the wedge threading so that lowering of the wedge will cause widening of both expansion plates which by pressing against the internal post walls will lock it into a stable position.

19. Railing as described in claims 1 and 18, and characterised by the fact that the base qlate can be square or rectangular or curved for floor mounted supports or L shaped for wall mounted supports.

20. Railing as described in claims 1 and 18, and characterised by the fact that the expansion plates are parallelepipedon with rectangular bases for square, rectangular or polygonal posts or may have curved external walls for curved posts.

21. Railing as described in claims 1 and 18, characterised by the fact that alignment between the two holes in the base plates and thus alignment between the two stakes of the expansion plates can be installed at right angles to each other.

22. Railing comprising a handrail supported on posts, the handrail and posts being pivotally interconnected so that the angle between same can be varied and the handrail can be used on surfaces of differing slopes.

23. Railing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.